Product Reviews

DVD writers are an everyday part of life with a PC. It's rare to find a new drive that doesn't support both DVD+R and DVD-R dual-layer discs - and if you're looking for a drive to add to a older machine, the write speeds of even the cheapest models are more than adequate. For most buyers, the only real consideration is price. Unless, that is, the drive in question is Samsung's SH-W163A's. Why? Because this internal DVD writer connects to your PC's motherboard using Serial-ATA (SATA).

This is a connection we're more used to seeing on recent hard disks. In theory, it's a great idea. SATA can transfer data at up to 133Mbit/s or even 150Mbit/s, compared to the 33Mbit/s that existing IDE optical drives use. So again, in theory, it should be able to write discs more quickly. But a brief look at the Samsung's specs

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will tell you it does nothing of the sort. So what's in it for you?

Well, for one thing, ease of installation. Yes, you still have to take the side off your PC to install it - but instead of being configured as a 'master' or 'slave' using small plastic jumper pins, as you would with an IDE drive, you just plug in the SATA cable and connect the power. And because SATA cables are smaller than those used by IDE drives, they'll reduce clutter in your PC's case.

The Samsung also comes with a program that automatically checks online to see if a new version of the drive's firmware has been released, which may allow future increases in write speeds.

As things stand, the drive's no slouch. Using the bundled Nero 6 OEM suite, it burned dual-layer DVD+R discs in 19 minutes and 23 seconds - a good result. Other types of disc were similarly quick, with DVD+R and -R completing in under six minutes.

If you're installing a drive in a PC that doesn't currently have one, the £40 Samsung is a perfectly good alternative to existing IDE drives - though you'll first need to check that your motherboard has the all-important SATA connection.

For everyone else, there's no pressing need to upgrade. In theory, the Samsung will prepare you for a time when motherboards will no longer have IDE connections - but by then we'll see drives that can really make the most of what SATA can offer.